What has globalization ever done to you?

[Arrian]

Oh please, not the "Americans are from Mars, Euros are from Venus" crapola.

Spiff, you better watch about, that Florida OJ might just dilute your culture! BEHOLD the evil of the American Cultural Imperialists, that they stoop so low as to use orange juice as a weapon against the purity of ancient cultures!

-Arrian

[General Ludd]

Fast food and hollywood are not just hamburgers and movies, they are a complete pre-packaged culture and way of life. Mybae you don't realise this, because it is all you have.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Naturally, You're American

Yup... I'm the penetrator, not the penetratee

[Arrian]

It's not all I have, culture snob. It's all you SEE, though, apparently.

-Arrian

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Arrian
It's not all I have, culture snob. It's all you SEE, though, apparently.

-Arrian

I said maybe it is, but I think you are wrong. I have a hard time believing the USA is the cultural paradise you make it out to be when I live right next to you in Canada, and see nothing but fast food culture dominating both sides of the border. I am, of course, talking about the culture of the region as a whole.

[Spiffor]

Arrian :
Except if you lived for a long time out of the US, you can't know how it looks like on the recieving end. Very often, those who live in a more influent culture do not understand why the 'inferior' cultures have resentment.
English-speakers in Canada are surprised by the reaction of the French-speaking community to protect their language. Parisians didn't understand in the 19th century why they were disliked in the rural areas.

It is not a symptom of ignorance or stupidity. Only that a cultural domination means that many things you feel "normal" are spread elsewhere, in places where they are not "normal". And you fail to understand why people resent them.

[Dinner]

Osweld: Please tell me how globalization is harmful. I'd like to hear what you have to say.

[Sava]

3:1 = "in awe of"

[Sava]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Osweld: Please tell me how globalization is harmful. I'd like to hear what you have to say.

Not culturally, but American companies taking jobs to other countries... exploiting cheap labor, inhumane conditions, and child labor...

[Arrian]

said maybe it is, but I think you are wrong. I have a hard time believing the USA is the cultural paradise you make it out to be when I live right next to you in Canada, and see nothing but fast food culture dominating both sides of the border. I am, of course, talking about the culture of the region as a whole.

I don't claim "cultural paradise!" Frankly, I'm not sure there is any such thing. In fact, I'm rather suspicious of people who tout their "culture" because I see major similarities to nationalism and we all know the dangers of that, don't we?

Further, I'm not arguing that everyone should run out and get a BigMac & a Coke! Not at all. I just can't take the incessant whining about how big, bad America is exporting "cultural imperialism." Why? Because all you have to do is NOT FRIGGIN' BUY THE STUFF! Spiff doesn't, and that's fine (it was his pride at halting the advance of the perfidious ACI* that I took issue with).

You know what really pisses me off? Americans are stereotyped as being uncultured hacks, but at the very same time we're supposedly using our unstoppable culture to take over the world! uke:

-Arrian

* "American Cultural Imperialism" hereforth abbreviated to ACI.

[ranskaldan]

Originally posted by Sava
Not culturally, but American companies taking jobs to other countries... exploiting cheap labor, inhumane conditions, and child labor...

Of course, the only alternative to that is to have American consumers suffer from higher prices while poorer countries slowly die from lack of investment, unemployment, and civil war.

[Sava]

I agree with Arrian. The obnoxious, culturally bankrupt crap known as American Pop Culture will go away when we stop paying for it. If you don't like it, don't buy it.

[ranskaldan]

As for American pop culture - it's not like any sort of pop culture in the entirety of human history has actually been better.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Osweld: Please tell me how globalization is harmful. I'd like to hear what you have to say.

Oerdin, please read my first post in this thread.

[Sava]

Originally posted by ranskaldan


Of course, the only alternative to that is to have American consumers suffer from higher prices while poorer countries slowly die from lack of investment, unemployment, and civil war.

If the prices of products are too high, they won't be bought, and the businesses will fail. Those that survive will be forced to adapt and improve. It's the pillar of capitalism and a basic evolution of business. The strong will survive while the weak die. As for poorer countries, they are welcome to follow our example. If anything, suckling on the teet of Multi-National-Corporations aren't doing anything to improve things in those impovereshed areas. It anything, it's stifling their improvement. It isn't America's responsibility to support the world. We should help where we can, but other countries need to become self-sufficient so they can support themselves.